Elevator or spider



I July 16, 1929.

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mum w INN K G. KRELL ET AL Filed Jan. 14, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORGeorge fire Y Guy MMarf/nef ATTORNEY July 16, 1929. G. KRELL ET ALELEVATOR OR SPIDER le J n- 1 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY a 36 AiTORNEY Jill16, 1929. G. KRELL ET AL 1.721,024

ATOR OR SPIDER Filed Jan. '14, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR George/fra// BY "d uy M. Marfmef AiTORNEY July 16, 1929. EL ET' AL ELEVATOR ORSPIDER Filed Jan. 14, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR George fire 1 611 MMorf/nef ATTORNEY Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,721,024 PATENT OFFICE.

' GEORGE KRELL AND GUY M. MARTINET, OF gAPULPA, OKLAHOMA; SAID MARTINEASSIGNOR T SAID KRELL.

ELEVATOR SJZIDER.

Application filed January 14, 1927. Serial No. 161,133.

' Our invention relates to pipe clamps and more particularly to a deviceof that character for use as a tubing or casing elevator or spider, theprincipal object of the invention being to provide a slip structure ofthis character wherein the slips are slidingly supported at an angleless than that of repose, to

' effect their proper gripping relation with the tubing or casing andwhich co-operate with complel'nentary basket 01' carrying means havingtapered support at an angle greater than that of repose to facilitatespread of the slips when relieved of their burden such com plementarymeans being under control of a lever element to resist expansion whilethe slips are being set and to promote expansion when the slips arerelieved to obviate freez ing of the slips in the carrying means.

In accomplishing the object above generally stated we have providedimproved details of structure hereinafter describedand illustrated inthe accompanying drawmgs, wherein: v s

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp embodying our invention andillustrating 1ts application to well tubing.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspectrve view of the clamp, illustratingits hinge construction for ready application to its object.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one Of the slips. r Fig. 4; is acentral vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 7, particularlyillustrating the differential angle contacts of the slip and basketmembers in the frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the frame hangers. 5

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the semi-circular framemembers. t

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the clamp, partly in section, to illustrate thehinge, the hanger and the lock members. I I

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 88, Fig. 7.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

12 designates therespective halves of a circular. frame having hingedconnection through a pin or the like 3, whereby the frame is adapted toopen and close for application to a pipe or casingi the body members,when closed, having a cylindrical bottom opening 4 formed in a flange 5and providing a shoulder 6 upon which the lower ends of basket membersare adapted to bear, as presently de' scribed; the opening 4being ofgreater diam hangers, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4 of the seat havingan angle greater than that of repose, preferably about as indicated at7.

-The frame members 12 are provided at opposite sides with undercutrecesses 8 for receiving the lips 9 of hanger members 10, whereby theframe may be supported from ordinary bails 11. The bails are preferablyseated sockets 12, whichmay be closed "by blocks 13 pinned in the'mouths14 of the sockets. as indicated at 15, although any suit ableconstruction of hanger bail and connection may be employed.

. Located Within the tapered portion of the frame is a basket consistingof wedge-likeblocks 16, the outer faces of which correspond 1n angle tothe inner faces of the frame members to seat closely thereagainst and insliding contact therewith. lhe inner faces of the basket members arealso tapered but at an angle less than that of repose, preferably about7 degrees, as indicated at 17 in order that the slips which seat withinthe basket, as presently described, will have a friction lockingrelation with the basket members and with the tubing or casing whichthey are adapted to grip.

18 designates the slips which may be of any ordinary construction inthat they comprise corrugated or toothed inner faces 19, adapted forgripping the pipe or casing and having tapered outer faces 20 adaptedfor cooperation with the tapered seat, except that the slips employed inour improved c'lamp are provided withupstanding ears 21, adapted forengagement with the coupling collar of a tu'bingor casing joint.

With a clamp comprising elements constructed as'described, with thebasket members seated in the frame and the slips in the basket members,when weight of astring of tubing or casing is applied to the slips, theangle of contact we have provided between the basket members and framewill permit the basket members to clamp on the frame members and expandthe basket if no means is provided to offsetthis tendency. Such means wehave provided in-a connection between the bail hangers and basketmembers.

preferably contemplating an overhanging of the basket members by theupper ends of the drawings. With: this arrangement each of the basketmembers has a downwardly and outwardly beveled rim 22 and each of thehanger members a head 23 extended over said rim and provided with a face24 having a bevel corresponding to that on the basket member rim so thatwhen the weight of the frame and its supported parts is placed on thehanger members, the upper ends of the hangers are drawn inwardly becauseof the converging relation of the bails, and the beveled faces ofthehanger heads forced against the beveled rims of the basket members towedge the basket members downwardly to their seats.

From experience it has been learned that with a combination of slips ina tapered frame wherein the angle of contact is sufiicient to effect aWorking gripping force, friction between the slips and the tubing orcasing becomes so great that it is often impossible, or at least quitedifiicult, to separate the slips from the tubing or casing, the commonpractice requiring a hammering or like action to efiect the separation.

With our arrangement, however, it is only necessary to relieve thepressure of the hanger members on the basket members in order to effectthis separation, as the 60 degree angle of contact between the basketmembers and frame permits the basket members to climb the wall of theframe under influence of the weight of the tubing when unrestrained andthereby free the slips. In order, however, to effect a positivespreading of the basket for relief of the slips, we connect each of thehanger members with a basket member preferably through a toggle linkage25-26, the link 25 being pivoted at 27 in an inwardly opening socket 28in the hanger head and the link 26 having a screw shank 29 threaded intoa socket 30 in the upper end of the basket member and being pivotallyconnected at3l with the inner end of the link 27 so that when the hangermember is spread, it pulls on the basket member to open the basket andfree the slips so that they are easily removable from the tubing orcasing.

It is customary in the use of a clamp of this kind as a tubing-elevator,to slightly lower the tubing afterelevation of the string to expose theupper joints so that a lower joint of the tubing may, be gripped by aspider on the derrick platform. When'this occurs, weight of the longstring of casing is removed from the. clamp and the, hangers may bespread by the exertion of a' relatively slight force. r

- Ve, therefore, provideeach hanger memlberwvith spreading means,preferably conating. ofa spring 32' coiled about a hinge pin"33;.-presentl y mentioned, bearing at one. end againstthe frame memberand having jan arm Si exteriding into a seat 35 in the 0 from contactwith the rims of the basket members, to permit the basket members toclimb and release the slips.

Should the basket members stick, they are positively loosened by a pullof the toggle links as the hanger heads move outwardly. This linkage isfurther effective to induce a greater spreading of the basket membersthan would be possible merely from the climbing action under the weightof the suspended parts, as the latter wouldfree the parts but for afraction of an inch, where as it is desirable to provide a greaterspread in order to afford freedom of movement of the slips relative tothe tubing.

This linkage further provides a positive connection between the basketmembers and hangers to avoid dropping of the basket members and theirdissociation from the device.

We prefer to permanently anchor the basket members in the frame by arms86 (Figs. 2 and 7), extended through slots 37 in the frame members andhingedly mounted on the pin 3, which connects the frame members, thearms having play in their slots and on the hinge pins to permit thevertical movement of the basket members, as heretofore described.

It is desirable that the slips form a permanent part of the clamp andalso that they be normally open, i. e., spread to receive a tubing orcasing. To effect this mounting and normal spread, we provide the basketmembers with recesses 38 in their inner Walls and the slips with ears 39slidable longitudinally within the recesses and anchored for suchlongitudinal movement on pins 40, mounted in the basket members andextended through the recesses. Seated on the bottoms of said recessesabout the pins and bearing against the faces of the ears are expansionsprings 41, which tend to normally yieldingly support the slips in theirspread relation but which are compressed to permit the slips to close.The slips are in this way anchored to the clamp so that theycannotescape when the clamp is open but are free and quickly removed fromtheir mountings for substitution of sets of different sizes.

Byforming the contact cars 21 integral withthe slips, proper,co-operation between the slips and the tubing or casing collars isassured, as the ends of the ears are located between the collarsirrespective of the size of the slips,

It is-essential that the frame of the.

gripping clamp be positively locked when applied to the tubing orcasing. While any suitable form of lock may be provided, we prefer toemploy the one illustrated in detail in the drawings. This lockcomprises a block 43 formed integral with one of the frame members andcarrying a plunger 44 in a socket 45 opening outwardly from the blockand yieldingly urged outwardly by a spring 46 seated in a socket 47opening inwardly of the plunger, the inner end of the spring bearingagainst the bottom of the socket in the block.

The socket 45 has a lateral opening 48 communicating with a slot 49 inthe body of the frame, and pivoted on a pin 50 extending verticallythrough said lateral opening is a latch 51, having a tooth 52 adaptedfor engaging in a notch 53 in the plunger. Fixed on a pin 54 mounted inthe frame member and extending through the slot 49 is a lever arm 55having a tooth 56 engaging a lip 57 on the latch 51 so that when thelever is moved in .one direction,it will retract the plunger against thetension of its spring.

' The .plunger is adapted for seating in an openln'g 58 in a plate 59formed integral with the other frame member when the parts are closed,the plunger having a beveled face 60 engageable with, the edge of theplate to force the plunger back against. the spring as the parts areclosed so that the plunger may be projected outwardly into the openingwhen the parts are in registration.

Assuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, theoperation is as follows: a

- Assuming tubing located in the well to be pulled, when the well is tobe cleaned or for other purposes, the clamp is closed about the top ofthe upper oint of tubingand elevated by means of cable running over thepulley at the top of the derrick in the customary manner. When the clampis first applied to the body of the tubing, the slips are loose; thatis, they do not grip the tubing. As the clamp is raised, the ears 21 onthe upper ends of the slips contact withthe bottom of the collar at thetop of the tubing and the slips are forced downwardly into the basket.The slips, moving downwardly on the 7 degree angle of contact with thebaskets, when brought in contact with the tubing, exert a leverage .ofabout 8 to 1, which is suflicient to provide the required engagementwith the tubing. When this gripping engagement is effected while theclamp is being elevated, the weight of the entire string of casing'isplaced on the slips and this weight transferred through the basket-tothe frame.

,asket" to climb" out of the frame and destroy he grip of the slipson'the tubing.

hanger construction, however, the hanger Because of the 60 ne ree angleof contact ofthe basket with theframe, there. would bea tendency of thethe angle of repose to effect clamping action 30 heads are swung overthe rims of the basket members and form an obstruction to prevent thisclimbing action so that as the slips progress down the wall of thebasket, the basket members have a slight expansion during the firsttravel of the slips, their climbing action bringing their rims intocontact with the hangers where the action is interrupted and a slightfurther movement of the slips into the basket effects the grip. Thestring of casing is then elevated to the proper height.

Then the string of casing is let down to support on the derrickplatform, the weight is relieved from the clamp, and the springs 32 tendto expand or spread the hangers out of their holding relation to thebasket members. The basket members are freed to rise under the climbingforce and also by positive pull from the hanger members and thefrictional contact of the slips with the basket members release-d sothat the slips are easily frame, a sectional basket having tapered seatsin said frame, a set of slips having tapered seats in said basket, andautomatically operable means for locking the basket against expansion.

3. In a clamp of the character described, a frame, a sectional baskethaving tapered seats in said frame, a set of slips having tapered seatsin said basket, and means for holding the basket against expansion asthe slips assume clamping relation and adapted to release the basket topermit the slips to open.

4. In a clamp of the character described, a

frame, a sectional basket having tapered seats in said frame, a set ofslips having tapered seats in said basket, means for locking the basketagainst expansion as the slips assume clamping relation and movable torelease the basket to permit the slips to open,

and yielding means urging the last-named means to expand the basket. 5.In a clamp of the character described, a

frame, abasket adjustable in the frame and having frictional contacttherewith at an angle greater than the angle of repose, and a set ofslips adjustable in and having frictional cbntact with the basket at anangle less than of the slips. g

6. In a clamp of the character described, a frame, a basket adjustablein the frame and having frictional contact therewith at an angle greaterthan the angle of repose, a set of slips adjustable in and havingfrictional contact with the basket at an angle less than the angle ofrepose to effect clamping action weight of the slips and their objectand auto niatically movable to release the permit the slips to expand.

8. In a clamp of the character described, a frame having tapered seats,a .basket in said frame, slips having tapered seats in the basket,hangers pivotally supporting the frame and having heads adapted forlocking the basket against expansion, and means suspending the hangersat an angle to shift the hanger heads to locking relation with thebasket under weight of the frame and its load.

9. In aclamp of the character flescribed, a frame having tapered seats,a basket'in said frame, slips having tapered seats in the basket,hangers pivo'talgg supporting the frame and having heads apted forlocking basket and I the basket against expansion, and means suspendingthe hangers at an angle to shift the hanger heads to locking relationwith the basket under-weight of the frame and its load and automaticallymovable to release the basket when relieved of Weight of the load.

10. In a clamp of the character described, a frame having tapered seats,a basket in said frame, slips havingtapered seats in the basket, hangerspivotally supporting the frame and having heads adapted for locking thehas ket against expansion, means suspending the hangers at an angle toshift the hanger heads to locking relation with the basket under weightofthe frame and its load, and yielding means resisting locking movementof the hangers and adapted for shifting the hangers to release thebasket members.

11. In a clamp of the character described, a frame having tapered seats,a basket in said frame, slips having tapered seats in the basket.hangerspivotally supporting the frame and having heads adapted forlocking the hasket against expansion, means suspending the hangers at anangle to shift the hanger heads to locking relation ,with the basketunder weight of the frame and its load, yielding means resisting lockingmovement of the hangers and adapted'for shifting the hangers to releasethe basketmembers, and positive connection between the hangers andbasket members.

12. In a clamp of the character described, a frame having tapered seats,a plurality of basket members having limited downward movement in saidseats and having tapered inner faces, and avplurality of slips seated inthe basket members.

13. In a clamp of the character described, -a frame having taperedseats, a plurality of basket members having limited downward movement insaid seats and having tapered in-.

-ner faces, and a plurality of slips seated in the basket members, theslips having means engageable with a protuberance onthe object to beclamped for setting the parts for gripping the obj ect.

14. In a clamp of the characterdescribed, a frame having tapered seats,basket members in said seats having tapered inner fades, slips in saidbasket members, hangers pivotally suspending the frame and having stoppor-' tions, and bales pivotally suspending the hangers, the balesconverging to swing said stop portions to holding position relative tothe basket members under weight of the' frame and its load. I

15. In a clamp of the character described, a frame having tapered seats,basket members in said seats having tapered inner faces, slips in saidbasket members,hangers pivotally suspending the frame and having stopportions, bales pivotally suspending the hangers, the bales convergingto swing said stop, portions to holding position relative to the basketmembers under weight of the frame and its load, and yielding meanstending means tending to spread the hangers from the frame.

16. In a clamp of the character described, a frame having tapered seats,basket members in said seats having tapered inner faces, slips in saidbasket members, hangers pivotally suspending the frame and having stopportions, bales pivotally'suspending the hangers, the bales operable toswing said stop portions to holding position relative to the basketmembers underweight of the frame and its load, yielding means tending tospread the hangers from the frame, and link connection between thehangers and basket members.

17. In a clamp of the character described, a frame having tapered seats,basket members in said seats having tapered inner faces,

slips in said basket members, hangers pivotally suspending the frame andhaving stop portions,bales pivotally suspending the hang ers, the balesoperable to swing said step portions to holding position relative to thebasket members under weight of the frame and its load, and leverconnection between the hangers and basket members.

18. In a clamp of the character described, a frame,'radial1y adjustablebasket members carried by said frame, slips having tapered seats in saidbasket members, and yielding means tending to expand the slips in thebasket members.

19. In a clamp of the character described, a frame, radially adjustablebasket members carried by said frame, slips having tapered seats in saidbasket members, and yielding means tending to expand the slips in thebasket members, the slips having means engageable with a protuberance onthe object to be clamped to shift the slips to holding position againstthe tension of said yielding means.

20. In a clamp of the character described, a frame, radially adjustablebasket members carried by said frame, slips having tapered seats in saidbasket members, and yielding connection between the slips and basketmembers tending to expand the slips in the basket members.

21. In a clamp of the character described, a pair of frame membershaving tapered inner faces and radial slots, a pin hingedly connectingsaid members, basket members in the frame having arms loosely projectedthrough the frame slots and pivoted on said pin and slips having taperedseats in said basket members.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures.

GEORGE KRELL. GUY M. MARTINET.

